NY Sen. Gillibrand: Afghanistan not worth blood, treasure

View full sizeNew York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says the U.S. can no longer "afford an endless war in Afghanistan." She called for a "clear plan for withdrawal." (AP Photo)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Saying the nation can no longer "afford an endless war in Afghanistan," U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called yesterday for a "clear plan for withdrawal" of U.S. combat forces there by 2014.

The Democrat said the Obama administration needs to hold firm about its planned draw-down, beginning July 1, and said the president should be required by Congress to submit a plan by July 31 for the phased redeployment of combat troops from Afghanistan, including a "completion date."

The senator said corruption and lack of cooperation on the part of Afghan leaders -- whom she called "unreliable partners" -- coupled with the loss of American troops, has made the costly operation no longer viable.

Nearly 100,000 U.S. troops are currently deployed in Afghanistan, with more than 1,600 coming from New York state, including 14 from Staten Island. More than $345 billion has been spent on the Afghan war, with another $124 billion slated to be approved by Congress.

"After nearly a decade at war, with still no equal commitment from the Karzai government, and after all the lives we've sacrificed and the billions we've spent on this war, it's time to start bringing our troops home," said Ms. Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. "It's time to put the future and security of Afghanistan in the hands of its own leaders and focus America's national security on the emerging and more imminent threats from al Qaeda in other regions."

During a conference call with reporters, she said those areas include Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, but said she was not advocating boots-on-the-ground strategies there with the redeployment of troops out of Afghanistan.

In advocating for passage of the Safe and Responsible Redeployment of United States Combat Forces from Afghanistan Act, the senator said it should be left up to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to decide where to redeploy troops.

She also suggested such a move would "create a sense of urgency in the Karzai government" and among the Afghan people "to take the lead" on their own security and in the war on terror.